Food Security Must Be Based On Local Production

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - The government has to focus on local production and take steps to reduce the nation's dependence on imported products in order to achieve food security, according to an expert.

"By passing the Law of Food, the Board of Food Security is expected to help the nation achieve food security soon, because the board is responsible for tackling Indonesia's food problems as stated in the law," an agricultural expert from Udayana University, Dewa Ngurah Suprapta, said here on Friday.

The President has granted the authority to the board to implement measures necessary for handling the nation¿s food problems. Besides, the board is also supported by several ministries.

"With this authority, the national food board will be able to develop strategies to achieve food security based on local production," Suprapta stated.

"Agricultural policies in Indonesia have so far not focused on the abilities and skills of farmers," he continued.

"The government tends to be concerned with achieving food security targets by importing the products instead of increasing local production," Suprapta pointed out.

He said Indonesia has the potential to produce sufficient agricultural products to ensure its food security.

"In order to fulfil Indonesia¿s potential, the central government and local administrations have to make joint efforts to protect the nation¿s agricultural land," Suprapta added.

He also expressed hope that Indonesia would soon stop depending heavily on imported agricultural products and achieve food security.(*/T007)